Washington, D.C. — In a fiery and unexpected display on the Senate floor Tuesday, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) launched a blistering critique against members of his own party, accusing Democrats of being complicit in enabling the Trump administration’s controversial law enforcement policies.
“This is the problem with Democrats in America right now — we’re willing to be complicit with Donald Trump!” Booker thundered, his voice echoing through the chamber during a rare outburst that shocked many of his colleagues. Visibly angry, Booker blocked the passage of several bipartisan police-related bills, citing the Trump administration’s decision to withhold federal law enforcement funds from Democratic-led states such as New Jersey.
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Booker’s refusal to advance the bills — which included funding for police mental health services and officer support programs — highlighted growing divisions within the Democratic caucus as the party grapples with its legislative strategy during Trump’s renewed political resurgence.
“The Democratic Party needs a wake-up call!” Booker exclaimed, pacing the Senate aisle. “Why would we do something today that plays into the president’s politics and hurts officers in states like mine?”
The confrontation unfolded after Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) attempted to pass seven bipartisan law enforcement bills by unanimous consent. Booker objected to five of the proposals, asserting they would further empower a federal government that, under Trump, is “weaponizing” public safety grants against blue states.
Cortez Masto pushed back, arguing that it’s possible to both support communities and confront Trump’s policies:
“We can do both,” she said. “Support our communities, keep them safe, and take on Donald Trump and his bad policies.”
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) also criticized Booker’s approach, noting that the bills had previously passed committee without objection. “You can’t just let these bills go through in committee and then object later on the floor,” Klobuchar said. “This is not the way to go about it.”
Booker’s frustration reached a boiling point. “I see law firms bending the knee to this president. I see universities abandoning their principles. If you want to come at me, come at me. There’s too much on the line,” he said, before storming off the floor.
The incident comes amid a broader existential debate within the Democratic Party: whether to cooperate with Republicans on bipartisan measures or adopt a more combative stance in response to Trump-aligned policies. That tension has only deepened as the GOP rushes to confirm dozens of Trump nominees before the August recess.
Democrats have also faced backlash from their base in recent months. Many criticized Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for helping to pass a Republican-backed spending bill earlier this year, which avoided a government shutdown but lacked Democratic policy concessions. With another funding deadline looming in the fall, Democrats must again decide whether to compromise or confront.
Booker offered no specific legislative strategy, but emphasized the need for Democrats to “fight harder.” Other lawmakers acknowledged the dilemma.
“I hear both things back home,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). “People want us to work together. But they also thank us for standing up and fighting. Both are absolutely necessary at this moment in history.”
